The Golden Globes kicked off the awards season on Monday January 5, and as the glittering parade of stars walked the red carpet, all eyes were on Zendaya. Alongside a Bulgari paraiba tourmaline and diamond necklace, the Dune actress was debuting a new ring: a sizeable diamond solitaire, believed to be an engagement ring from her partner, the Spider-Man actor Tom Holland.
Engagement Ring Speculations
Although the engagement has not yet been officially confirmed by the couple, sources including TMZ and People magazine have reported that the British actor went down on one knee over the holiday period. Another clue is that as a brand ambassador, Zendaya is contractually obliged to only wear jewelry by Bulgari during red carpet appearances. It’s a common clause for major jewelry brands and the only usual exception to this rule is engagement rings.
No details have been released about the ring itself, but from the red carpet pictures, it looks to be a geometric diamond — likely cushion-cut or even an old mine-cut — set east-west in a yellow gold band. It’s an elegant choice that accented Zendaya’s Old Hollywood red carpet look and custom Louis Vuitton terracotta strapless gown beautifully.
Modern and Minimalist Design
Horizontal settings like east-west, seen in recent years on engagement rings worn by stars like Lily Collins, are a strikingly modern choice that allows more light to enter the stone, increasing radiance. Experts agree that the stone is likely to be between five and six carats, but are divided on its value and provenance.
Eschewing an overblown design or diamond-heavy pave details, the ring’s pared-back aesthetic and geometric shape give it a minimalist appeal as a versatile, contemporary engagement ring that will be easy to style every day. There is speculation that the ring could be the East-West Cushion Diamond Button Back ring by London jeweler Jessica McCormack, known for her modern, bold jewels.
Expert Opinions
Tobias Kormind of 77 Diamonds believes the ring is "a large, cushion-cut diamond in either a white or yellow gold band” and estimates the solitaire to be “at least five carats in size”. The company makes similar rings for between $50,000 and $60,000, but other experts have suggested Zendaya’s ring could be worth up to $500,000, depending on the quality of the diamond.
Jillian Sassone at Marrow Fine can see the actress starting an engagement ring trend for east-west settings that “strike a beautiful balance between sophistication and individuality.”
Possible Origins
Another possibility is an antique ring, likely from the Art Deco period of the 1920s or 1930s when geometric cuts were in vogue. The couple could also have had an old-cut diamond sourced and designed into a bespoke setting.
Both former child stars, the couple met in 2016 and have worked together on the Spider-Man film franchise and are both set to appear in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey.
Zendaya, Diamond Ring, Engagement, Tom Holland, Golden Globes
